Dan Parker statement on House passage of landmark health care reform

For Immediate Release 
March 22, 2009

 

 Indiana Democratic Party Chair Dan Parker on House passage of landmark health care and insurance reform bill 

 

INDIANAPOLIS -- Late yesterday, a landmark health care and insurance reform bill was passed by the House of Representatives. This health care and insurance reform legislation represents one of the most significant advancements in health care in American history.

This new health care and insurance reform bill will extend health care coverage to more than 36 million Americans and will reduce the national deficit by more than $148 billion over the next 10 years and over a trillion in the next 20 years. In addition, it will hold insurance companies accountable by preventing them from raising premium rates, denying care or dropping coverage for hard working Americans because of pre-existing conditions. Lastly, the health care and insurance reform bill will include the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history, making insurance affordable for small businesses and middle class families. President Barack Obama is expected to sign The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Reconciliation Act of 2010 into law within the next few days.

Proudly we state that every Democrat in the Indiana Congressional Delegation voted for the bill. All Indiana Republicans voted against the measure.

After the bill's passage, Indiana Democratic Party Chair Dan Parker released the following statement: 

"This is what change looks like. And while the road to insurance reform was long and at times difficult, the successes of this journey have finally been realized. Long ago a dream of Teddy Roosevelt - President Barack Obama has delivered change to our nation in the name of health care reform."

"This health care and insurance reform bill is long overdue and brings much needed reforms to the insurance industry that will greatly benefit Hoosiers.  In addition to greatly reducing our nation's deficit, it will help Indiana small businesses reduce their health care costs and allow them to invest those savings by creating jobs for Hoosiers. And finally, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions or cancel coverage because of illnesses."

"I thank President Obama, Hoosier Congressional Democrats and Senator Evan Bayh for their determination, courage and strong leadership in helping to pass this landmark initiative." 

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